BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY STANDARDS 

FOR RECREATIONAL WATERS 

(FRESHWATER AND MARINE WATERS)

STATUS REPORT

June 2003 
ii 

BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY STANDARDS 

FOR RECREATIONAL WATERS 

(FRESHWATER AND MARINE WATERS)

STATUS REPORT

June 2003 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Office of Water (4305T) 

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 

Washington, DC 20460

EPA-823-R-03-008 
ii

Contents

Introduction ................................................................................ 1

Water Quality Standards Background ............................................................ 3

EPA Criteria for Bathing

Freshwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Marine Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Acknowledgments ........................................................................... 5

Bacterial Water Quality Standards - Summary Information

Summary of Bacterial Water Quality Standards for States, Tribes, and Territories (By EPA Region) .... 6

Narrative Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Detailed Overview

Region 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Connecticut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

New Hampshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Rhode Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Region 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Virgin Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Region 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Delaware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

District of Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

West Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Region 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

South Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Seminole Tribe of Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Region 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Fond du Lac Band of the Chippewa Tribe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Sokaogon Chippewa Community of the Mole Lake Band of Chippewa Indians . . . . . 17
iii

Region 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Pueblo of Acoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Pueblo of Isleta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Pueblo of Nambe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Pueblo of Picuris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Pueblo of Pojoaque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Pueblo of Sandia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Pueblo of San Juan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Pueblo of Santa Clara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Pueblo of Tesuque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Region 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Region 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

North Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Region 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

American Samoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Common wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Guam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Hoopa Valley Tribe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

White Mountain Apache Tribe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Region 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Spokane Tribe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
1

Introduction

In 1997, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established the Beaches Environmental

Assessment, and Coastal and Health (BEACH) Program. The goal of the BEACH program is to

reduce risks to human health caused by exposure to pathogens in recreational waters. Surveys

and ongoing scientific studies continue to document the presence of, or the potential for, diseasecarrying bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens present in local beach water, primarily from

sewage and stormwater runoff. Humans can be exposed to pathogens in recreational waters

through ingestion, inhalation, and body contact. 

The BEACH Program focuses on the following five areas to improve public health and

environmental protection programs for beach goers, and to provide the public with information

about the quality of their beach water:

 Strengthening beach standards and testing 

 Providing faster laboratory test methods 

 Predicting pollution 

 Investing in health and methods research 

 Informing the public

The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act of 2000 authorized

EPA to award grants for development and implementation of programs to notify the public of the

potential exposure to disease-causing microorganisms in coastal recreation waters. Program

development and implementation grants to eligible States, Territories, Tribes, and local

governments support microbiological testing and monitoring of coastal recreation waters,

including the Great Lakes, that are adjacent to beaches or similar points of access used by the

public. The BEACH Act also amended Section 303 of the Clean Water Act to require by April

10, 2004 that coastal and Great Lakes states adopt EPA’s published indicators for pathogens

with criteria as protective as those published by EPA, in their water quality standards.

EPA is working with states and tribes to assist them in adopting water quality criteria for EPA’s

published pathogen indicators, E. coli and/or enterococcus bacteria, in their water quality

standards. The Agency is also working with states, tribes, and local governments to strengthen

local beach health monitoring efforts and procedures to achieve these standards. EPA assistance

includes awarding grants for beach monitoring and public notification as well as providing 

technical assistance and training.

This document, Bacterial Water Quality Standards for Recreational Waters (Freshwater and

Marine Waters) - Status Report provides a brief overview of the bacterial water quality standards

that have been adopted by states for their marine and fresh recreational waters in the United

States. This report is based on consultations with EPA water quality standards coordinators.

The report is accurate as of September 2002; however, there may be revisions to standards that

are not reflected in this report. EPA will update the report periodically to reflect new

information. The information in the report is presented in summary format for both

states/territories and tribes. The summary is organized first by EPA region, and then by state,

territory, and tribe within each region. 
2

For the precise regulatory language applicable to a particular state, the reader should consult the

water quality standards of the state. Copies of state water quality standards may be obtained

from the state’s water quality management agency or its equivalent (EPA houses a repository of

state, tribal, and territorial water quality standards on its website at

http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/wqslibrary/). Readers should also note that

standards in this report may not be the only guidelines or standards in effect for recreational

waters in a particular location. It is not uncommon for local health agencies to develop and

adopt site-specific guidelines as part of their public health codes. One should consult the

appropriate local health agency to obtain detailed information.

EPA’s BEACH Program is improving public access to information about the quality of the water

at their beaches and health risks associated with swimming in those waters. More information

about water quality at our nation's beaches, local protection programs, and other beach-related

programs is available on EPA’s "Beach Watch" internet website at

http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches/. 
3

Water Quality Standards Background

In response to widespread public concern about the condition of our nation’s waters, the United

States Congress enacted landmark legislation in 1972. This statute, the Federal Water Pollution

Control Act Amendments of 1972 (referred to as the Clean Water Act of 1972, or CWA),

expanded and built upon existing laws designed to control and prevent water pollution. 

Successive amendments to the 1972 CWA (the Clean Water Act of 1977 and the Water Quality

Act of 1987) have continued to strengthen the law to better protect our nation’s waters.

Water quality standards are the cornerstone of a state’s water quality management program. 

States, territories, and Indian tribes set water quality standards for waters within their

jurisdictions. Water quality standards define a use for a waterbody and describe the specific

water quality criteria to achieve that use. The water quality standards also contain

antidegradation policies to protect existing water quality. These are the goals by which success

is ultimately gauged for a given waterbody or watershed.

The water quality standards program is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA). Congress has mandated that EPA is responsible for providing water quality

criteria recommendations; approving state-adopted standards for waters of the United States;

evaluating adherence to the standards; and overseeing enforcement of standards compliance. 

Guidance for the development of standards by individual states, tribes, and territories is

contained in the EPA documents Water Quality Standards Handbook, Second Edition (1983)

and Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria (1986).

Fecal bacteria have been used as an indicator of the possible presence of pathogens in surface

waters and the risk of disease, based on epidemiological evidence of gastrointestinal disorders

from ingestion of contaminated surface water or raw shellfish. Contact with contaminated water

can lead to ear or skin infections, and inhalation of contaminated water can cause respiratory

diseases. The pathogens responsible for these diseases can be bacteria, viruses, protozoans,

fungi, or parasites that live in the gastrointestinal tract and are shed in the feces of warm-blooded

animals. 

However, because of the difficulties in analyzing for and detecting the many possible pathogens

or parasites, concentrations of fecal bacteria, including fecal coliforms, enterococci, and

Escherichia coli, are used as the primary indicators of fecal contamination. The latter two

indicators are considered to have a higher degree of association with outbreaks of certain

diseases than fecal coliforms and were recommended as the basis for bacterial water quality

standards in the 1986 Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria document (both for fresh

waters, enterococci for marine waters). The standards are defined as a concentration of the

indicator above which the health risk from waterborne disease is unacceptably high.

Prior to the 1986 revision to the National criterion, there were recommendations in the report of

the National Technical Advisory Committee to the Secretary of the Interior, Water Quality

Criteria (1967) and by EPA in Quality Criteria for Water (1976). Both of these documents were

based on fecal coliforms and recommended that maximum densities not exceed geometric means

of 200 organisms per 100 ml in recreational waters.
1

Only one indicator should be used. The regulatory agency should select the appropriate

indicator for its conditions.

4

The 1986 criteria statement for bacteriological criteria follows:

EPA Criteria for Bathing (Full Body Contact)

Recreational Waters

Freshwater

Based on a statistically sufficient number of samples (generally not less than 5 samples equally

spaced over a 30-day period), the geometric mean of the indicated bacterial densities should not exceed

one or the other of the following:1

E. coli 126 per 100 ml; or

Enterococci 33 per 100 ml.

No sample should exceed a one sided confidence limit (C.L.) calculated using the following as guidance:

Designated bathing beach 75% C.L.

Moderate use for bathing 82% C.L.

Light use for bathing 90% C.L.

Infrequent use for bathing 95% C.L.

based on a site-specific log standard deviation, or if site data are insufficient to establish a log standard

deviation, then using 0.4 as the log standard deviation for both indicators.

Marine Water

Based on a statistically sufficient number of samples (generally not less than 5 samples equally spaced

over a 30-day period), the geometric mean of the enterococci densities should not exceed 35 per 100 ml.

No sample should exceed a one sided confidence limit using the following as guidance:

Designated bathing beach 75% C.L.

Moderate use for bathing 82% C.L.

Light use for bathing 90% C.L.

Infrequent use for bathing 95% C.L.

based on a site-specific log standard deviation, or if site data are insufficient to establish a log standard

deviation, then using 0.7 as the log standard deviation.
5

Acknowledgments

This report is an update of the 1997 Bacterial Water Quality Standards Report and was compiled by

Susan Emerson in the Office of Science and Technology. To ensure the completeness and accuracy of

this overview, the following EPA Regional Water Quality Standards Coordinators were consulted:

Region 1: Matt Liebman, Office of Ecosystem Protection

Boston, MA

Region 2: Wayne Jackson, Division of Environmental Planning and Protection

New York, NY

Region 3: Cheryl Atkinson, Water Protection Division

Philadelphia, PA

Region 4: Fritz Wagener, Water Management Division

Atlanta, GA

Region 5: Holly Wirick, Water Division

Chicago, IL

Region 6: Russell Nelson, Water Quality Protection Division 

Dallas, TX

Region 7: Larry Shepard, Water, Wetlands and Pesticides Division

Kansas City, KS

Region 8: Dave Moon, Office of Ecosystem Protection and Remediation

Denver, CO

Region 9: Phil Woods, Water Division

San Francisco, CA

Region 10: Marcia Lagerloef, Office of Water

Seattle, WA
6

Bacterial Water Quality Standards - Summary Information

Summary of Bacterial Water Quality Standards for States, Tribes, and Territories (By EPA Region)

State / Tribe / Territory Criteria1,2 State / Tribe / Territory 

Freshwater Marine Water 

Region 1 Region 2Connecticut EN/FC/TC EN New Jersey Maine EC EN New York Massachusetts FC FC Puerto Rico New Hampshire EC EN Virgin Islands Rhode Island FC/TC FC/TCVermont EC •Region 3 Region 4Delaware EN EN Alabama District of Columbia FC • Florida Maryland EC/EN/FC EN/FC Georgia Pennsylvania FC • Kentucky Virginia EC/FC EN/FC Mississippi West Virginia FC • North Carolina 

South Carolina Tennessee Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida Seminole Tribe of Florida 

1 FC = fecal coliforms; TC = total coliforms; EN = enterococci; EC = Escherichia coli.2 Many jurisdictions use both the 1986 indicator criteria and fecal coliforms; some continue to use total coliforms. Even if a state has the authorit

use another indicator at its discretion.
Summary of Bacterial Water Quality Standards for States, Tribes, and Territories (By EPA Region)

State / Tribe / Territory Criteria1,2 State / Tribe / Territory 

Freshwater Marine Water 

7

Region 5 Region 6Illinois FC • Arkansas Indiana EC • Louisiana Michigan EC/FC • New Mexico Minnesota FC • Oklahoma Ohio EC/FC • Texas Wisconsin FC • Pueblo of Acoma Fond du Lac Band of the Chippewa Tribe EC • Pueblo of Isleta Sokaogon Chippewa Community of the Mole LakeBand of Chippewa Indians

EC/EN • Pueblo of Nambe 

Pueblo of Picuris Pueblo of Pojoaque Pueblo of Sandia Pueblo of San Juan Pueblo of Santa Clara Pueblo of Tesuque 

1 FC = fecal coliforms; TC = total coliforms; EN = enterococci; EC = Escherichia coli.2 Many jurisdictions use both the 1986 indicator criteria and fecal coliforms; some continue to use total coliforms. Even if a state has the authorit

use another indicator at its discretion.
Summary of Bacterial Water Quality Standards for States, Tribes, and Territories (By EPA Region)

State / Tribe / Territory Criteria1,2 State / Tribe / Territory 

Freshwater Marine Water 

8

Region 7 Region 8Iowa FC • Colorado Kansas FC • Montana Missouri FC • North Dakota Nebraska FC • South Dakota 

Utah Wyoming Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Res. Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of theFlathead Reservation

Region 9 Region 10Arizona EC • Alaska California3 EC/EN/FC/TC EN/FC/TC Idaho Hawaii FC EN Oregon Nevada EC/FC • Washington American Samoa FC EN Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands EC/EN/FC FC/EN Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Guam EC/EN EN Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort ApacheReservation

EC/FC Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservatio

Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation 

Hoopa Valley Tribe EC/EN Spokane Tribe 1 FC = fecal coliforms; TC = total coliforms; EN = enterococci; EC = Escherichia coli.2 Many jurisdictions use both the 1986 indicator criteria and fecal coliforms; some continue to use total coliforms.3 California has 9 Regional Boards; some use the 1986 indicator criteria, whereas some use fecal coliform and total coliform entirely or for othe
9

Narrative Summary

Eighteen states, twelve tribes, and two territories have adopted an E. coli standard for freshwaters:

States:

Arizona

California

Colorado

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Maine

Maryland

Michigan

Nevada

New Hampshire

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Virginia

Tribes:

Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes

of the Fort Peck Reservation

Confederated Tribes of the

Umatilla Reservation

Confederated Tribes of the 

Warm Springs Reservation

Fond du Lac Band of the

Chippewa Tribe

Hoopa Valley Tribe

Pueblo of Acoma

Pueblo of Isleta

Pueblo of Picuris

Pueblo of Pojoaque

Pueblo of San Juan

Spokane Tribe

White Mountain Apache Tribe

of the Fort Apache

Reservation

Territories:

Commonwealth of the

Northern Mariana Islands

Guam

Six states, three tribes, and two territories use enterococci as a standard for freshwaters:

States:

California

Connecticut

Delaware

Maryland

New Jersey

Oklahoma

Tribes:

Confederated Tribes of the

Colville Reservation

Hoopa Valley Tribe

Pueblo of Acoma

Territories:

Commonwealth of the

Northern Mariana Islands

Guam

Nine states and four territories use enterococci as a standard for marine waters: 

States:

California

Connecticut

Delaware

Hawaii

Maine

Maryland

New Hampshire

New Jersey

Texas

Virginia

Territories:

American Samoa

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana

Islands

Guam

Puerto Rico
Bacterial Water Quality Standards - Detailed Overview

Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 1 Connecticut Class AA 100 TC

No single sample to exceed 500 TC. Class AA waters are

not meant for contact recreation.

Class A/SA 33 EN 100 TC 33 EN

No single sample may exceed 61 EN. TC value is monthly

moving average. No more than 10% of TC samples may

exceed 500.

Class B/SB 33 EN 200 FC 33 EN

No single sample may exceed 61 EN. No more than 10% of

FC single samples may exceed 400. 

Comments: EC criteria do not apply to all primary contact recreation waters, only

established bathing waters. 

Maine Class AA & A/SA (see note) (see note)

Note: Bacteria content may be as naturally occurs.

Class B/SB 64 EC 8 EN

For season May 15–September 30. No Class B sample may

exceed 427 EC. No Class SB sample may exceed 54 EN.

Class C/SC 142 EC 14 EN

For season May 15–September 30. No Class C sample may

exceed 949 EC. No Class SC sample may exceed 94 EN.

Massachusetts Class A/SA 20 FC 200 FC

Primary freshwater value based on arithmetic mean. No more

than 10% of FC samples may exceed 100 for freshwater and

400 for marine waters, respectively. Marine value may be

applied seasonally.

Class B/SB 200 FC 200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Marine

value may be applied seasonally.

Class C/SC 1000 FC 1000 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 2000.
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 1

(cont’d.)

New Hampshire Class A 47 EC 35 EN

No single sample may exceed 153 EC or 104 EN. For

“beach,” no single sample may exceed 88 EC. Based on

minimum of 3 samples taken in a 60-day period.

Class B 126 EC 35 EN

No single sample may exceed 406 EC or 104 EN. 

 Based on minimum of 3 samples taken in a 60-day period.

Class B (beaches) 47 EC

No single sample may exceed 88 EC Based on minimum of 3

samples taken in a 60-day period.

Temporary Partial

Use

(none) (none) (none) (none)

Rhode Island Class A/SA 100 TC

20 FC

70 TC

15 FC

Primary values based on median. No more than 10% of TC

samples may exceed 500 and 330, respectively. No more than

10% of FC samples may exceed 200 and 50, respectively.

Class B/SB 1000 TC 700 TC

Values based on median. No more than 20% and 10% of TC

samples may exceed 2400 and 2300, respectively.

200 FC 50 FC

Values based on median. No more than 20% and 10% of FC

samples may exceed 500 and 500, respectively.

Class C/SC (see note) (see note)

Note: None in concentrations that would impair any uses

assigned to this class. 

Comments: Marine FC criteria are guides pending further research.

Vermont Class A 18 EC

Class B 77 EC

Secretary may waive October 31–April 1. 
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 2 New Jersey Freshwater 1

(FW1)

(see note) (see note)

shall be maintained as to quality in the natural state.

Pinelands Waters

(PL)

(see note) (see note)

shall be maintained as to quality in the natural state or the

quality necessary to protect the designated use, whichever is

more stringent.

Freshwater 2

(FW2)

33 EN

200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. 

No single EN sample may exceed 61.

Saline Estuary 1

(SE1)

35 EN

200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. 

No single EN sample may exceed 104.

Saline Estuary 2

(SE2)

770 FC

Saline Estuary 3

(SE3)

1500 FC

Saline Coastal 

(SC) Waters

35 EN

50 FC (within 1500 ft of

coastline)

200 FC (1500 ft - 3 mi)

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400.

No single EN sample may exceed 104.

Mainstem Delaware River and Delaware Bay: 

Zones 1C,1D,1E,6 200 FC

Zone 2 200 FC 770 FC

Primary RM 133.4–117.81; secondary RM 133.4– 108.4

Zones 3,4 770 FC

Zone 5 200 FC 770 FC

Primary RM 59.5–48.2; secondary RM 78.8–59.5

New York Class AA 50 TC

Value based on median. No more than 20% of TC samples

may exceed 240. Standards apply during periods of

disinfection.

Class A 2400 TC

200 FC

TC value based on median. No more than 20% of TC samples

may exceed 20,000.
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 2

(cont’d.)

New York

(continued)

Class B/SB 2400 TC

200 FC

2400 TC

200 FC

TC values based on median. No more than 20% of TC

samples may exceed 5000.

Class C/SC 2400 TC

200 FC

2400 TC

200 FC

TC values based on median. No more than 20% of TC

samples may exceed 5000.

Class D/SD 2400 TC

200 FC

TC values based on median. No more than 20% of TC

samples may exceed 5000. Criteria apply only to Class D

waters. There are no bacterial criteria for Class SD waters.

Class SD waters are not meant for recreational purposes.

Class I 10000 TC

2000 FC

Class A-Special

(A-S)

1000 TC

Fresh Surface

Water

200 FC

Puerto Rico Class SA (see note)

Note: May not be altered except by natural causes.

Class SB 35 EN

200 FC

35 EN for “intensely used waters”; otherwise, 200 FC. No

more than 20% of FC samples may exceed 400.

Class SC 10,000 TC

2000 FC

No more than 20% of FC samples may exceed 4000.

Class SD 10,000 TC

2000 FC

No more than 20% of FC samples may exceed 4000.

Class SE (see note)

Note: None of the parameters may be altered, except by

natural causes.

Virgin Islands Class A (see note)

Note: Existing natural conditions are not to be changed.

Class B 70 FC

Class C 200 FC 
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 3 Delaware 100 EN 10 EN

Bathing beaches 193 EN 35 EN

No single freshwater sample may exceed 360 EN. No single

marine sample may exceed 2,212 EN, or 460 EN within onehalf mile of Indian River Inlet.

Comments: All samples with an excess of 104 EN are re-sampled, with advisories being

based on consecutive samples in excess of the 104 EN criteria. Bathing beaches

criteria are not part of the Delaware water quality standards regulations.

District of

Columbia

200 FC 1000 FC

Does not apply for 24 hr following high flow conditions.

Maximum 30 day geometric for 5 samples.

Maryland Public bathing

beach

126 EC

 33 EN

35 EN

Other than public bathing beach 200 FC 200 FC 200 FC 200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Based

on no less than 5 samples taken over a 30-day period.

Pennsylvania Bac 1 200 FC

Swimming season (May 1–September 30). 2000 FC applies

during the rest of the year.

Bac 2 5000 FC

No more than 20% of samples may exceed 5000 FC. No more

than 5% of samples may exceed 20,000 FC. For public water

supplies.

Comments: Criteria adopted by the Delaware River Basin Commission (200 FC for the

Delaware River from the Burlington Bristol Bridge to the Pennsylvania /

Delaware line, 770 FC for the Delaware River from the head of tide to the

Burlington Bristol Bridge) apply when they are more stringent than

Pennsylvania’s criteria.

Virginia 126 EC

200 FC

200 FC 35 EN

200 FC

200 FC

Comments: Based on two or more samples over a calendar month. No more than 10% of

FC samples taken over a calendar month may exceed 400 FC. No sample may

exceed 1000 FC. FC criteria do not apply after a sampling station has 12 or

more data points for EC or EN, or after June, 2008, whichever comes first. 

Single sample maximum based on 75% upper confidence limit and site-specific

log standard deviation. Until sufficient data are acquired 0.4 will be used for

fresh waters, and 0.7 will be used for marine waters (235 EC and 104 EN)

West Virginia Categories A&C 200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400.

Ohio River

(Category C)

2000 FC

For nonrecreation season November-April only.

Comments: Based on minimum of 5 samples per month
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 4 Alabama Swimming 200 FC 200 FC 100 FC 100 FC

Primary applies year-round. Secondary applies for out of

season (October–May). Out of season mean 2000 FC; 4000

FC sample maximum for freshwater and marine waters.

Fish and Wildlife 200 FC 1000 FC 100 FC 1000 FC

Florida 200 FC 200 FC

No more than 10% FC samples may exceed 400; 800 FC on

any one day. 1000 TC maximum for monthly average. No

more than 20% of TC single samples may exceed 1000. 2400

TC maximum on any one day. Based on minimum of 10

samples.

Georgia Recreation 200 FC 200 FC 100 FC 200 FC

For May through October, primary recreation criteria apply.

All other months, secondary recreation criteria apply with a

4000 FC maximum of any sample.

Fishing 200 FC 1000 FC 200 FC 1000 FC

Kentucky 200 FC 1000 FC

For May–October; no more than 20% of FC samples may

exceed 400 and 2000, respectively. Out of season, secondary

contact criteria used for primary waters.

Mississippi Recreation 200 FC 200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400.

Fish & Wildlife 200 FC 2000 FC 200 FC 2000 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. From

November to April, secondary applies and no more than 10%

of FC samples may exceed 4000.

North Carolina Class SA

(shellfishing)

14 FC

Based on median value. No more than 10% of FC samples

may exceed 43 in those areas most probably exposed to fecal

contamination during the most unfavorable hydrographic and

pollution conditions.

Class B/SB

(Primary

Recreation,

Fresh\Tidal Salt)

200 FC 200 FC

No more than 20% of FC samples may exceed 400.

Class C/SC

(Secondary

Recreation,

Fresh\Tidal Salt)

200 FC 200 FC

No more than 20% of FC samples may exceed 400.

Violations are expected immediately following periods of

rainfall in segments where uncontrollable nonpoint source

pollution prevents attainment.
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 4

(cont’d.)

South Carolina Class FW/SA 200 FC 200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400.

Class SB 200 FC 1000 FC

No more than 20% of FC samples may exceed 2000.

Tennessee Recreation 200 FC

126 EC

Based on minimum of 10 samples. No single FC sample may

exceed 1000.

Domestic Water

Supply

1000 FC 1000 FC 

Based on a minimum of 10 samples. No single FC sample

may exceed 5000.

Fish & Wildlife 1000 FC 1000 FC 

Based on a minimum of 10 samples. No single FC sample

may exceed 5000.

Miccosukee Tribe

of Indians of

Florida

1000 TC

200 FC

No more than 20% of samples may exceed 1000 FC.

No more than 10% of samples may exceed 400 FC.

No sample may exceed 2,400 EC.

Seminole Tribe of

Florida

200 FC

No more than 10% of samples may exceed 400 FC.

No sample may exceed 800 FC.

Region 5 Illinois 200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400.

Lake Michigan 20 FC

Comments: Illinois monitors 99% of its recreational waters using EC.

Indiana 125 EC

For season April through October. No single sample may

exceed 235 EC.

Michigan 130 EC

200 FC

No single sample may exceed 300 EC. May be exceeded if

due to uncontrollable nonpoint sources. Primary standard can

be temporarily suspended due to flood, accident, or

emergencies that affect a sewer or wastewater treatment

system. Can be suspended November 1-April 30. The criteria

apply, at minimum, May 1-October 31.

Comments: The EC value is used for ambient monitoring; the FC value is used for assessing

effluent discharges.
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 5

(cont’d.)

Minnesota Class A 200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Criterion

applies only during the March 1–October 31 season.

Class B 200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 2000.

Criterion applies only during the March 1–October 31 season.

Ohio Lake Erie &

Ohio River Uses

200 FC

126 EC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. No

more than 10% of EC samples may exceed 235. Based on

not less than 5 samples taken during any 30-day period. 

Rest of state 1000 FC

126 EC

5000 FC

576 EC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 2000 and 5000,

respectively. No more than 10% of EC samples may exceed

298 [primary] and 576 [secondary]. 

Comments: Both Lake Erie and the Ohio River are designated as bathing waters. For each

designation, at least one of the two bacterial standards (FC or EC) must be met.

These criteria apply outside the mixing zone.

Wisconsin 200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Specific

water segments have variances which allow 1000 FC.

Fond du Lac Band

of the Chippewa

Tribe

126 EC 126 EC

When fewer than five samples are collected in a thirty day

period, no sample may exceed 235 EC.

Sokaogon

Chippewa

Community of the

Mole Lake Band of

Chippewa Indians

(See note) (See note)

Criteria are based on either EPA criteria guidance or

ambient concentrations, whichever is more stringent.
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 6 Arkansas 200 FC 1000 FC

No more than 10% of FC sample may exceed 400 and 2000,

respectively. For extraordinary resource waters, primary

standard always applies; for other waters, primary standard in

effect April 1–September 30. Rest of year, secondary applies.

Louisiana 200 FC 1000 FC 200 FC 1000 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples in a 30 day period, or 25%

annually, may exceed 400 for primary contact and 2000 for

secondary contact. Primary criteria apply May 1 - October 31.

The rest of the year, secondary criteria apply.

New Mexico 200 FC 1000 FC

No single sample may exceed 400 FC or 2000 FC,

respectively.

Select Segments: 100 FC

No single sample may exceed 200 FC

Comments: Surface waters of the state shall be virtually free of pathogens. In particular, surface

waters of the state used for irrigation of table crops such as lettuce shall be virtually

free of salmonella and shingella species. 

Oklahoma 126 EC

33 EN

200 FC

Narrative

Primary criteria apply May 1 – September 30; rest of year,

secondary criteria apply. No more than 10% of FC samples

may exceed 400. For lakes and high use waterbodies, no

single sample may exceed 235 EC and 61 EN. For all other

waters, no single sample may exceed 406 EC and 108 EN. 

Comments: Adopted WQS to allow choice of FC, EC, EN. 

Texas 126 EC

200 FC

605 EC

2000 FC

35 EN

200 FC 

168 EN

2000 FC

No sample may exceed 394 EC for primary contact. No

samples may exceed 400 FC or 89 EN for primary contact and

4000 FC for secondary contact.

Houston Ship Channel 168 EN

No more than 10% of EN samples (if more than 10 samples)

or a single sample (if fewer than 10 samples) may exceed 500.

This criterion applies for two segments of the Houston Ship

Channel.

Comments: Texas Department of Health uses most probable number (MPN) methodology;

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality uses membrane filtration (MF)

methodology. FC bacteria can be used as an alternative instream indicator of

recreational suitability until sufficient data are available for EC or EN. For

segments designated as oyster waters, FC can continue to be used as an

indicator of recreational suitability because FC is used as the indicator for

suitability of oyster water use. 
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 6

(cont’d.)

Pueblo of Acoma 126 EC

33 EN

200 FC

No sample may exceed 235 EC or 61 EN for Acomita Lake

and high use water bodies and 406 EC or 108 EN for all other

ceremonial and recreational use areas. No more than 10% of

the total samples in any 30-day period may exceed 400 FC.

The criteria for partial body contact is 10 times the criteria

specified for primary contact recreation.

Comments: Compliance for primary contact recreation based on meeting the criteria for one

of the indicators.

Pueblo of Isleta Primary Contact

Ceremonial

47 EC

100 FC

No sample may exceed 200 FC or 88 EC for primary

contact ceremonial and recreational uses.

Pueblo of Nambe 200 FC

No sample may exceed 400 FC

Comments: No secondary contact recreation use.

Pueblo of Picuris 126 EC

200 FC

No sample may exceed 400 FC or 235 EC.

Comments: No secondary contact recreation use.

Pueblo of Pojoaque 126 EC

200 FC

No sample may exceed 400 FC or 235 EC.

Comments: No secondary contact recreation use.

Pueblo of Sandia Ceremonial 100 FC

Recreational

(April 1-

September 30)

100 FC

(All other times) 200 FC

Comments: No sample may exceed 200 FC for primary contact recreation and primary

contact ceremonial uses, or 400 EC for secondary contact recreation.

Pueblo of San Juan Ceremonial 100 FC

47 EC

Recreational

(April 1 -

September 30)

47 EC

100 FC

200 FC

(All other times): 200 FC

Comments: No sample may exceed 200 FC or 88 EC for primary contact recreation or

primary contact ceremonial uses, and 400 FC for secondary contact recreation.
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 6

(cont’d.)

Pueblo of Santa

Clara

200 FC

No sample may exceed 400 FC.

Comments: No secondary contact recreation use.

Pueblo of Tesuque 200 FC

No sample may exceed 400 FC.

Comments: No secondary contact recreation use.

Region 7 Iowa 200 FC

Comments: For April 1-October 31 season. Excepted when waters are materially affected by

surface runoff, but FC levels downstream from discharge may not be >200 more

than the background level upstream. 

Kansas 200 FC 2000 FC

No sample may exceed 900 FC. Primary contact use applies

April 1-October 31. Secondary criteria applies year-round.

Comments: Classified surface waters may be excluded from the application of the numeric

criteria for fecal coliform when stream flow exceeds 50% of the estimated 2-

year flood flow.

Missouri 200 FC

For periods when the stream or lake is not affected by storm

water runoff. Applies April 1–October 31.

Comments: State applies FC to designated losing streams also, but on a year- round basis.

Nebraska 200 FC

No more than 10% of samples may exceed 400 FC. 

Applies May 1-September 30.
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 8 Utah Class 2A 1000 TC

200 FC

Failure of stream to meet WQS when flow is unusually high

is not a cause for action if discharger is meeting permit

requirements.

Class 2B 5000 TC

200 FC

Comments: Although the state has both primary and secondary contact recreation uses, the

same primary contact level of protection is applied to both. The state retained two

use classifications to address safety concerns in designating certain waters as

“swimmable.”

Wyoming 200 FC 1000 FC

Comments: No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400 and 2000, respectively. For

recreational season May 1 –September 30. The geometric mean of 3 samples

collected within a 24 hour period may not exceed 400 FC. All waters of the state

are designated for primary contact. Standards apply throughout the year.

Colorado Class 1A 200 FC

126 EC

Class 1B 325 FC

205 EC

Class 2 2000 FC

630 EC

Comments: Colorado has two categories of primary contact recreation use in addition to

their secondary contact recreation use. The Recreation Class 1a use is the

default use category. In these waters, primary contact recreation uses have been

documented or are presumed to be present. The Recreation Class 1b use is

intended to protect waters with the potential to support primary contact uses,

and may be assigned only if a reasonable level of inquiry has failed to identify

any existing primary contact recreation uses of the waterbody. The Rec 1b use

category is assigned geometric mean E. coli criteria based on an illness rate of

10 per 1000 swimmers (compared to 8 per 1000 for Class 1a). Finally, the

Recreation Class 2 use may be assigned only where a use attainability analysis

has demonstrated that there is no reasonable potential for primary contact

recreation uses to occur within the next 20-year period.

Montana Class A 50 FC

Class A1 50 FC

Classes B1, B2,

B3, C1, C2, C3 

200 FC

No more than 10% of samples may exceed 400 FC.

Comments: Classes A and A1 are protected as primary drinking water sources. Criteria for

B and C classes only apply when the water is above 60 degrees F. All waters of

the state are given an A, B, or C classification. 
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 8

(cont’d.)

North Dakota 200 FC

Only during recreation season May 1-September 30.

Comments: The primary contact standards apply to all waters. The standards note that Class

III waters have limited potential for immersion recreation because of ephemeral

and intermittent flows. Nevertheless, the standards apply.

South Dakota 200 FC 1000 FC

No sample may exceed 400 FC for primary contact

recreation and 2000 FC for secondary contact recreation.

No more than 20% of samples may exceed 200 FC for

primary contact recreation and 1000 FC for secondary

contact recreation.

Comments: The primary and secondary contact standards apply May 1-September 30.

Assiniboine and

Sioux Tribes of the

Fort Peck Indian

Reservation

126 EC

200 FC

126 EC

200 FC

10% of the total samples during a 30-day period cannot

exceed 400 FC. No sample may exceed 235 EC for primary

contact recreation and 406 EC for secondary contact

recreation.

Comments: The recreational standards apply when the water temperature exceeds 15.5

degrees C. The only difference in the level of protection between primary and

secondary is the single sample maximum for EC.

Confederated

Salish and

Kootenai Tribes of

the Flathead 

Reservation

200 FC 200 FC

Class A - closed

basin

50 TC 50 TC

Class A1 50 TC 50 TC

10% of the total samples during a 30-day period cannot

exceed 400 FC.

Comments: All waters of the Reservation are designated for primary contact recreation. One

element of the Class A use is primary contact recreation.
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 9 Arizona 126 EC 126 EC

Single sample maximum is 235 for full body contact and

576 for partial body contact.

California North Coastal 

Regional Board 1

50 FC 50 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400.

San Francisco

Bay

Regional Board 2

126 EC†

33 EN†

200 FC

240 TC

2000 FC 35 EN

200 FC

240 TC

2000 FC

Marine waters: No sample may exceed 104 - 500 EN based

on frequency of use. Fresh waters: No sample may exceed

61-151 EN or 235-576 EC based on frequency of use. No

sample may exceed 4000 FC for secondary contact. No

more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. 

No sample to exceed 10,000 TC.

Central Coast

Regional Board 3

200 FC 2000 FC 200 FC 2000 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400 for

water contact recreation (REC-1) or 4000 for non-contact

water recreation (REC-2).

Los Angeles

Regional Board 4

126 EC

200 FC

2000 FC 35 EN

200 FC

1000 TC

2000 FC

Marine: single sample maximum is 400 FC, 10,000 TC, and

104 EN. 

Fresh: single sample maximum is 235 EC and 400 FC.

Central Valley

Regional Board 5

126 EC

Single sample maximum is 235 EC.

Folsom Lake

(In Central

Valley)

100 FC

No more than 10% of samples may exceed 200 FC.

Lahontan

Regional Board 6

20 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 40.

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 75 for the

Eagle Drainage Hydrologic Area. A log mean concentration

exceeding 20/100 mi for any 30-day period shall indicate

violation of this objective even if fewer than five samples

were collected.
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 9

(cont’d.)

California

(continued)

Colorado River

Basin

Regional Board 7

126 EC

33 EN

200 FC

630 EC

165 EN

No sample may exceed 100 EN and 400 EC for primary

contact and 500 EN and 2000 EC for secondary contact.

For the Colorado River, no sample may exceed 61 EN and

235 EC for freshwater primary contact. For secondary contact,

no sample may exceed 305 EN and 1175 EC.

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Also

maximum limits for EN and EC vary by level of use.

Santa Ana

Regional Board 8

200 FC 2000 FC 200 FC 2000 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400 for

primary contact and 4000 for secondary contact; 100 TC

maximum in lakes and streams designated as domestic water

supply. The marine water criteria also apply to bays and

estuaries.

San Diego

Regional Board 9

126 EC

33 EN

200 FC

2000 FC 35 EN

200 FC

2000 FC

For fresh water, no more than 10% of samples may exceed

400 FC for primary contact and 4000 FC for secondary

contact. Single sample maximum ranges from 61 EN - 151

EN and 235 EC - 576 EC for fresh waters and 104 EN - 500

EN for marine waters based on frequency of use.

Ocean Plan 24 EN for 30 day period

12 EN for 6 month period

200 FC

1000 TC

No more than 20% of TC samples may exceed 1000 in bays

and estuaries. No more than 10% of FC samples may

exceed 400.

Comments: Essentially all California waters are designated for primary contact recreation

with the exception of the Colorado River Basin Region.

Hawaii 200 FC 7 EN

Inland: based on minimum of 10 samples. No more than

10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Marine: based on

minimum of 5 samples.

Comments: Revisions pending for fresh waters and marine waters.
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 9

(cont’d.)

Nevada Class A and B 200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400.

Class C (includes

noncontact

recreation)

FC may not exceed the more stringent of:

1) The FC concentration must not exceed 1000 nor may

more than 20% of total samples exceed 2400.

2) The FC concentration must not exceed that which is

characteristic of natural conditions by more than 200, nor

may the FC concentration in a single sample exceed that

which is characteristic of natural conditions by more than

400. 

Waters not listed

below

200 FC 1000 FC

More stringent of the following:

For 1000 FC, no more than 20% of samples may exceed 2400

FC. Annual geometric mean FC concentration may not exceed

characteristics of natural conditions by more than 200 FC, nor

400 FC in a single sample. For primary, no more than 10% of

FC samples may exceed 400.

Lake Tahoe and

Tributaries and

Humboldt River

Basin, Walker

River, and Walker

Lake

126 EC

Lake Tahoe Basin also has FC limits between 5 and 32

(median) for offshore and undeveloped lake shore.

Humboldt River Basin has single value of 406 EC.

Comments: Nevada adopts water quality standards on a water body specific basis. The state

is in the process of replacing waters with FC criteria with EC criteria as

revisions are made basin-by-basin.

American Samoa 100 FC 35 EN

No more than 10% of samples may exceed 200 FC. For

Open Ocean, no sample may exceed 276 EN. For Open

Coastal Waters and all Embayments except Pago Harbor,

Fagatele Bay, and Pala Lagoon, no sample may exceed 124

EN. For Pago Harbor, Fagatele Bay, and Pala Lagoon, no

sample may exceed 104 EN. 

Comments: Revisions pending for fresh waters.

Common wealth of

the Northern

Mariana Islands

All waters 200 FC 200 FC

No FC samples may exceed 400 at any time.

Class AA 35 EN

Class 1 125 EC

33 EN

Class A 125 EN

Class 2 300 EC

90 EN

Comments: All Mariana Islands standards based on a minimum of 5 samples.

One element of the Class A use is limited body contact.
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 9

(cont’d.)

Guam S1/S2 Fresh

Waters

126 EC

33 EN

No sample may exceed 235 EC or 61 EN. Values based on

arithmetic mean.

S3 Fresh Waters 126 EC

33 EN

Values based on arithmetic mean. No sample may exceed 406

EC. No sample may exceed 108 EN.

M1/M2 Marine

Waters

35 EN

No sample may exceed 104 EN.

M3 Marine

Waters

35 EN

No sample may exceed 276 EN.

Comments: All waters are designated for contact recreation.

Hoopa Valley

Tribe

126 EC

33 EN

White Mountain

Apache Tribe

47 EC 1000 FC

2000 FC

with 10%

No sample may exceed 88 EC for primary contact and 4000

EC for secondary contact.

Comments: Primary contact recreation criteria apply May 1 - September 30, secondary contact

recreation criteria apply October 1 - April 30.

Region 10 Alaska 100 FC 200 FC 100 FC 200 FC

No more than 1 sample, or 10% of the samples if there are

more than 10 samples, may exceed 200 FC and 400 FC for

both freshwater and marine, primary and secondary,

respectively.

Comments: Alaska designates all waters for all uses, and the most stringent criteria must be

used. Therefore, for freshwater, the drinking water use criterion of 20 FC usually

drives most NPDES permit actions, 303(d) listings, and TMDL development. For

marine waters, the most stringent bacterial criterion is for the seafood processing

use = 20 FC (no more than 10% of the samples may exceed 40 FC). Even though

Alaska has 100 FC/200 FC as its recreation criteria, more stringent criteria for other

use categories take precedence.

Idaho 126 EC 126 EC

Primary levels apply during season May 1–September 30 for

primary only; secondary applies all other times. No sample

may exceed 406 EC for primary contact recreation and 576

EC for secondary contact recreation. 
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 10

(cont’d.)

Oregon 126 EC 14 FC

No freshwater single sample may exceed 406 EC. No more

than 10% of FC marine samples may exceed 43. For estuarine

waters other than shellfish growing, same criterion as

freshwater criterion. For estuarine waters with shellfish, same

criterion as marine. 

Washington Class AA 

(extraordinary)

50 FC 14 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 100 and 43,

respectively.

Class A

(excellent)

100 FC 14 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 200 and 43,

respectively.

Class B (good) 200 FC 100 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400 and 200,

respectively. Only designated for secondary contact.

Class C (fair) 200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Only

designated for secondary contact. 

Lake Class 50 FC

No more than 10% of samples may exceed 100 FC.

Confederated

Tribes of the

Chehalis

Reservation

Class AA 

(extraordinary)

50 FC 14 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 100 and 43,

respectively.

Class A

(excellent)

100 FC 14 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 200 and 43,

respectively.

Class B (good) 200 FC 100 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400 and 200,

respectively. Only designated for secondary contact.

Class C (fair) 200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Only

designated for secondary contact. 

Lake Class 50 FC

No more than 10% of samples may exceed 100 FC.
Bacterial Water Quality Standards by EPA Region

Freshwater Marine

Region State Class Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

Region 10

(cont’d.)

Confederated

Tribes of the

Colville

Reservation

Class I

(extraordinary)

8 EN

No sample may exceed 35 EN.

Class II

(excellent)

16 EN

No sample may exceed 75 EN.

Class III (good) 33 EN

No sample may exceed 150 EN. 

Only designated for secondary contact.

Lake Class 33 EN

No sample may exceed 150 EN.

Confederated 

Tribes of the

Warm Springs

Reservation

126 EC

No sample may exceed 406 EC.

Comments: Standards are for public and private domestic water supply, water contact

recreation, wildlife and hunting, fishing, and boating/recreation.

Confederated

Tribes of the

Umatilla 

Reservation

126 EC

No sample may exceed 406 EC.

Puyallup Tribe of

the Puyallup

Reservation

Class AA 

(extraordinary)

50 FC 14 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 100 and 43,

respectively.

Class A

(excellent)

100 FC 14 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 200 and 43,

respectively.

Class B (good) 200 FC 100 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400 and 200,

respectively. Only designated for secondary contact.

Class C (fair) 200 FC

No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 400. Only

designated for secondary contact. 

Lake Class 50 FC

No more than 10% of samples may exceed 100 FC.

Spokane Tribe of

Indians

126 EC

No more than 10% of samples may exceed 406 EC. This

applies to single samples if less than 10 samples are taken.

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regional Offices and Office of Science and Technology, Standards

and Health Protection Division.